BASEBALL

BASEBALL; Olerud Gets A Chance At First

By TYLER KEPNER

Published: August 4, 2004

The Yankees will find out very quickly how much life is left in John Olerud's career. With Jason Giambi apparently too weary to do much more than sleep, Olerud will be the Yankees' regular first baseman for at least the next few weeks.

Olerud won the batting title with Toronto in 1993 and started the All-Star Game while with Seattle as recently as 2001. But he has slumped badly in the last year.

''I think I'm still that same player,'' said Olerud, who joined the Yankees last night but did not start against the Oakland left-hander Mark Mulder. ''I've definitely struggled in the second half of last year and the first half of this year. I haven't had a lot of success offensively. But I'm looking to get that turned around, and I believe I can.''

Giambi is on the disabled list with a condition the team has described as a benign tumor. He has not been to Yankee Stadium this homestand, and Manager Joe Torre left a voicemail for him at Giambi's home yesterday.

''I know he had some doctors' appointments today,'' Torre said. ''So I just left the option open for him.''

Torre said that when Giambi returned, he would have to be the designated hitter for a while, giving the team an even longer look at Olerud. The Yankees have given no timeline on when Giambi will come back, but Torre expects him to miss most of August, at least.

''He's still going through some other things,'' Torre said. ''I'm not a doctor, and I don't know the total nature of what's going on medically, but I don't think it'll be sooner than three weeks. That's just a guess on my part.''

Olerud, who turns 36 tomorrow, was a .293 career hitter before the All-Star Game break in 2003. Since then, he is batting .252, and was hitting .245 when Seattle released him.

The Mariners owed Olerud $7.7 million this season, but their season turned sour early, and they determined Olerud would not be part of their future. The team allowed him to work out at Safeco Field after designating him for assignment, and Olerud, who has not played since July 11, said he felt sharp.

''I feel like I'm in good shape,'' Olerud said. ''I feel like I'm ready to go.''

Olerud reaches base more often than Tony Clark, but Clark has significantly more power. The Yankees had been winning with Clark playing for Giambi, but Torre said Olerud's background made him the logical starter.

''Olerud always has been an everyday guy,'' Torre said. ''Clark, the last few years, has been a backup, and we signed him as a backup. John led the league in hitting one year, and he's probably a little more of an established hitter.''

Torre also liked the idea of having Clark join Ruben Sierra as a switch-hitting power threat who could come off the bench.

''It really neutralizes what the opposing manager can do in trying to match you up,'' Torre said. ''You don't have to worry about trying to play a chess game.''

To make room for Olerud on the 25-man roster, the Yankees optioned reliever Juan Padilla to Class AAA Columbus.